That report that McLellan has known for weeks that he’ll be back? “I don’t respond to rumors,” Wilson says

Enough rumors and reports in the wind that it was time to make another round of phone calls today.

Just in case general manager Doug Wilson was ready to confirm or deny reports that Todd McLellan has known he would be back since three days after the season ended, or that Bryan Marchment was indeed a candidate for an assistant coaching job.

Wilson wasn’t.

“You know that I don’t respond to rumors,” he said today. “We are doing our due diligence and we are looking at every way to improve this hockey team.”

And so the process continues, without even a public declaration that any changes in the coaching staff will come only at the assistant level.

I do know that the player interview process that is the first stage of Wilson’s methodical examination of each season was completed this morning. And that it’s unlikely any definitive personnel moves will be made until the Stanely Cup playoffs have been completed as Wilson likes to know the full extent of the talent pool available before making any job offers.

But everything in its proper time, according to the general manager, and right now it’s still a matter of defining what needs to be done — and not who will be around to implement any changes.

The easy answer on what needs to be done is fix the penalty kill and both Wilson and McLellan appeaer to be on the same page there. Still, that was also high on the list a year ago and things only got worse.

Expect the Sharks to take a more aggressive approach when short-handed — Daniel Winnik drew a sharp contrast between the system here and those in Phoenix and Colorado — and it’s a safe bet that there’s still a question of who (besides McLellan) moves things in that direction.

It’s a sensitive topic. Jay Woodcroft is a longtime friend and colleague of McLellan’s who came with him to San Jose from the Red Wings organization. Woodcroft moved up from video coach to full-fledged assistant a year ago and his duties included the penalty kill; he’s an obvious target for change, but I’d be surprised if McLellan wasn’t trying to find another spot for him in the organization.

Marchment’s name has been most prominent and I wouldn’t rule it out. Another Sharks scout, Dirk Graham, has the cred as the 1991 Selke Trophy winner when he played with the Chicago Blackhawks, where he and Wilson had been long-time teammates. Mike Ricci’s name is also being circulated, and he was one of San Jose’s top penalty killers when he played here; immediately after retiring in 2007, Ricci told me he wasn’t interested in a full-time coaching gig because he truly did want to spend more time with his family all that travel was an issue, but maybe that’s changed over the past five years.

Outside the organization? Well, Mike Haviland was reportedly one of the AHL coaches under consideration back in 2008 when the Sharks were looking for a head coach. And he did just get squeezed out as an assistant in Chicago. But the Blackhawks also had penalty-kill problems (27th in NHL) and — while not blaming Haviland for those — maybe that’s a deal breaker. Or maybe not.

Anyway, unless something goes very wrong as the process plays itself out, do expect McLellan to be back next season — even if Doug Wilson isn’t ready to make it official.

Oh, and I did try to reach McLellan directly. So far, no response.

*****The Sharks continue to be tight-lipped about coaching and front-office contracts. It’s a philosophical position engrained deep in the organization. But ESPN’s Pierre LeBrun has reported that McLellan has two years left on his contract and LeBrun is as well-sourced as anyone around the NHL.

David Pollak

David Pollak has been following the NHL forever and at the Mercury News as an editor or reporter since 1987. For almost a decade he wrote about the Sharks as the paper's Fan in the Stands before joining the sports department in 2001. He became the Sharks beat writer before the 2007-08 season and began this blog at that time. You can also follow him on Twitter at @PollakOnSharks.

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Dirty@298
Forgot to thank you for the heads up about MEs article – excellent insights into both men, what makes them tick, and their time together with the Sharks as well as with the Kings. Favorite lines:

-“We’re just a couple of blue-collar guys,” Sutter said.”
-“But what I (DL) remember is how when I was fired, 12 players came to my house until 4 in the morning.”
-“Hockey might be what I do, but it’s not who I am,” Sutter said.
-Sutter installed an up-tempo style that included an aggressive forecheck. He tinkered with the lineup. He called out stars Dustin Brown and Anze Kopitar for being “stale.” He got through to under-achieving players such as Dustin Penner, who had become a league-wide joke after somehow hurting his back while eating pancakes.”
-defenseman Willie Mitchell said. “Our preparation wasn’t the best. And you know with Darryl Sutter, you’ve got preparation.”
-“I’ve never seen a GM so excited and wanting everyone to succeed.”

I dont understand Sharks fans who allow their knee-jerk hate for all things SoCal to cloud their appreciation for what DL and DS contributed to our franchise in its formative years. I was young when they were here but I remember my Dad telling me that those 2 men transformed the Sharks from a laughing stock team to one that was respected thruout the NHL. Im happy for DL and DS having a 2nd chance to guide a young team to the SCF – the Kings may not win the Cup this year, but they sure have put on a great PO show for their fans and for fans of hockey in general.

scott peterson

slappy

l.a will win the cup…

mikey

next season when sharks play at the stanley cup champions LA kings.

ZEKE

Curious about Sharks signings. Can’t they re-sign their own players now? Biggest one for me is Winnik, who seemed to have real chemistry on the line with Desi and Wingels.

slappy

ZEKE@304
It could be that Winnik wants to test the market. Or maybe he wants more $ than what DW wants to give him. Also keep in mind that Desi and Wingels and Braun as well as TJ and Ferriero and Sheppard are RFAs. The 1st 3 paid their dues in Worcester – they are keepers who deserve raises imo.

Perhaps DW wants to work out contracts for Desi, Wingels, and Braun first to know how much $ he has left for Winnik and some of the others. I’ve read on another hockey blog that Winnik was traded because the Avs did not want to pay what Winnik reportedly asked for ($2.5 M per). Hes not a center( usually command more $) like Desi and hes not a power forward with soft hands like Wingels.

Really hope DW doesn’t go over board $-wise on Winnik ’cause he doesnt do FOs or score goals. John McCarthy(UFA) age 25 and Tim Kennedy (RFA) age 26 are Worcester LWers who might work in nicely to the 3rd line with Wingels and Desi. Both of them can score goals unlike Winnik. McCarthy has a good build and plays responsibly. Kennedy has had 1 year NHL experience playing with the Sabres.

ZEKE

slappy — I’ll agree that you can overpay Winnik and $2.5mil is surely that. Heck, $1.5mil is probably too much for a 3rd to 4th line guy.

But if I do error, I’ll error on the side of a guy who showed some real chemistry with my team over a guy who hasn’t.

The list of “hasn’ts” includes guys you mentioned who’ve gotten a chance McCarthy, TJ, Ferriero. Cut them loose if you can’t trade them. Same with Dominic Moore, I’m afraid. And while I’d like to see Torrey Mitchell back (and I might be the only one), he probably needs a pay cut back into the 6 figures to stick around.

Its usually not hard to keep a RFA like Braun, Desi or Wingels. Braun, Desi and Wingels have shown they have good chemistry. Sign them — RFA status favors the team in negotiations.

But keeping a UFA is a lot tougher. If Winnik goes elsewhere, the 2 month rental of Winnik and Galiardi would be the only things we get in return for McGinn. Which would be a seriously awful trade. Can’t imagine DW wants that.

Stevo

slappy wrote:

“I am becoming steadily convinced that its not just the roster that determines a teams PO success.”

You reckon?? I mean, are you saying that you are beginning to understand that a team hires a Coaching Staff for something of actual purpose? There might be some hope for you.

btw, how’s your fantasy team doing?

ZEKE

ESPN reporting the Lidstrom will announce his retirement on Thursday. Hope this blog doesn’t get retired, but it sure isn’t active even though the Cup finals are about to begin. Of course, we’ve been out for over a month …

Alex

I will be rooting for the Kings but I believe the Devils will win it all.

renoshark

“The list of “hasn’ts” includes guys you mentioned who’ve gotten a chance McCarthy, TJ, Ferriero. Cut them loose if you can’t trade them.”

Zeke,

Like I posted previously, just about everyone that was acquired via trade or signed as a FA in the off-season underachieved this past season.

Not sure how much you’ve watched Galiardi or Winnik prior to the trade but these guys can play quality hockey and have played quality hockey. I’d like to see DW re-sign both but I agree with slappy that we shouldn’t overpay for Winnik. I do think it’s worth seeing what they can do with a full season under their belts.

Hockeynut

But keeping a UFA is a lot tougher. If Winnik goes elsewhere, the 2 month rental of Winnik and Galiardi would be the only things we get in return for McGinn. Which would be a seriously awful trade. Can’t imagine DW wants that.

If your priority on deciding to sign a guy or not is how it will make a bad trade you already made look worse, you are in the wrong line of work. Winnik showed NOTHING that makes me think he should be brought back. Ditto for Galiardi.

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